O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se há correlação entre alinhamento postural e desempenho motor em crianças com paralisia cerebral (PC), além de compará-las com crianças de desenvolvimento motor típico. Participaram 14 crianças com PC tipo espástico, entre 4 e 12 anos, classificadas nos níveis III, IV e V no sistema de classificação de função motora ampla (GMFCS); e 20 com idades entre 4 e 8 anos e desenvolvimento motor adequado, que constituíram o grupo controle. Foi avaliado o alinhamento de lordose cervical e cifose torácica na postura sentada por meio de fotometria; o desempenho motor foi avaliado pelo índice de função motora ampla (Gross motor function measure, GMFM) apenas nas dimensões sentar (B) e ficar em pé (D). O subgrupo de PC nível III obteve maiores escores no GMFM do que o dos níveis IV e V, com diferença significativa nas dimensões B (p=0,00) e D (p=0,016). Quanto ao alinhamento postural, os dois subgrupos de PC apresentaram menor angulação da lordose cervical do que o GC, com diferença significativa; também foram medidos ângulos menores da cifose torácica nos subgrupos PC, sendo que o subgrupo dos níveis IV e V apresentou diferença significativa tanto em relação ao outro subgrupo PC quanto ao controle. Foi encontrada correlação positiva (r=0,748) entre o desempenho motor e o alinhamento postural nos subgrupos de PC, mostrando que, quanto melhor o alinhamento postural, melhor o desempenho motor dessas crianças.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results and complications of a series of patients who underwent three-column osteotomy using the posterior approach for correction of complex cases of rigid dorsal kyphotic deformity. METHODS: Review of clinical records and images of 15 consecutive cases of pedicle subtraction osteotomies, bone-disk-bone osteotomies, or vertebral column resection, recording the etiology, type and level of osteotomy, extension of fixation, complications, and pre- and post-surgical measurements of the sagittal curves and pelvic parameters. RESULTS: Six pedicle subtraction osteotomies were performed, one of which in two adjacent vertebrae, as well as two bone-disk-bone osteotomies and seven vertebral column resection, two of which were performed in two adjacent vertebrae. The mean correction was 39.3° for the angular kyphosis and 33.9° for dorsal kyphosis. The corrections were similar regardless of the kind of osteotomy, the operated spinal segment, or the approach in one or two levels, but this may be a sample effect. Eight complications were observed in six patients (40% of cases): two medical complications, five early and one late surgical complication (over 90 days after surgery). There were three reoperations within less than one year from the initial surgery and one case of persistent paraparesis. Clinical complications were resolved without sequelae. There was no significant loss of correction during the segment, except in two cases of major mechanical failure due to a junctional segment fracture. CONCLUSION: Despite being complex and aggressive procedures, prone to various complications, osteotomies with resection of the three columns are highly effective in the correction of rigid kyphotic deformities and safe enough to justify its use in selected cases.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the sagittal curves of patients treated with CD instrumentation using exclusively pedicle screws. METHODS: Image analysis of medical records of 27 patients (26 M and 1 F) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, who underwent surgical treatment in our service between January 2005 and December 2010. The curves were evaluated on coronal and sagittal planes, taking into account the potential correction of the technique. RESULTS: In the coronal plan the following curves were evaluated: proximal thoracic (TPx), main thoracic (TPp), and thoracolumbar; lumbar (TL, L), and the average flexibility was 52%, 52%, and 92% and the capacity of correction was 51%, 72%, and 64%, respectively. In the sagittal plane there was a mean increase in thoracic kyphosis (CT) of 41% and an average reduction of lumbar lordosis (LL) of 17%. Correlation analysis between variables showed Pearson coefficient of correlation of 0.053 and analysis of dispersion of R2 = <0.001. CONCLUSION: The method has shown satisfactory results with maintenance of kyphosis correction in patients with normal and hyper kyphotic deformities.

OBJECTIVE: To assess in a cross-sectional study whether there are changes in sagittal balance in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis Lenke types 1 and 5 compared with patients without pathology of the spine and compare the values of the parameters of normal subjects with the parameters found in the literature. METHODS: We measured the values of the parameters of sagittal balance of 21 patients with scoliosis and 14 patients without scoliosis in panoramic radiographs or simply collected data previously measured from the medical records. We compared the mean values of normal subjects, the mean values found in the literature, and the means between normal subjects and patients with scoliosis. For this, we used the Student t test. RESULTS: Using a confidence interval of 5% (p < 0.05) and the Student t test we obtained statistical significance in the comparison of two parameters of sagittal balance between normal subjects and patients with scoliosis. We observed similarities in the measurements of the average parameters of normal subjects with regard to the work already published. CONCLUSIONS: The adolescent idiopathic scoliosis causes changes in two parameters of sagittal balance with statistical significance but suggests changes in all other parameters. As for comparison with previously published work, the results were similar.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare the surgical treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) with and without intraoperative skull-skeletal traction (ISST) in terms of the degree of curve correction, surgical time, hospitalization time, screw density, use of blood products,and complications. Methods: A comparative retrospective study, in which we analyzed the medical records and radiographs of 17 patients who underwent surgical treatment for neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS). They were divided into two groups, with 9 and 8 patients operated with and without ISST, respectively, at a referral hospital specialized in the treatment of spinal deformitiesfrom 2019 to 2021. The categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-squared test. Results: Among the 17 patients included in the study, there was a higher prevalence of women in the group without ISST (6 and 2) and of men in group with ISST (5 and 3). The ages of the patients in the two groups ranged from 8-19 years and from 11-29 years, respectively. The screw density used in the traction group averaged 66.33%±8.49 and 82.63%±17.25 in the non-traction group, a statistically significant differencewith a P-value of 0.036. The average percent correction was 76.81%±15.61 in the traction group as compared to an average of 66.39%±12.99 in the non-traction group. In addition, there were complications in 1 patient in each of the groups. Conclusions: Surgical treatment for NMS with ISST allows surgery using fewer blood products to maintain the same hematimetric level in the postoperative period. ISST also allows the use of a lower screw density to correct more severe deformities. Level of evidence III; Comparative retrospective study.

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the measurement of the Cobb angle in printed radiographs and digitalized radiographs displayed with the "PixViewer" tool. Methods: Pre-operative radiographs of 23 patients were performed in printed films and using the software "PixViewer". The same evaluator, a spine surgeon, chose the proximal and distal end vertebrae at the limit of the main curve in printed radiographs without identifying patients, and measured the Cobb angle based on these parameters. The same parameters and measurements were performed in digitalized radiographs. The measurements were compared, as well as the choice of end vertebrae. Results: The average change in the Cobb angle between the methods was 1.48±1.73°. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.99, demonstrating excellent reproducibility. Conclusion: The Cobb method can be used to evaluate scoliosis through the "PixViewer" tool with the same reliability of the classic method on printed radiographs.

ABSTRACT Objective: To present normality parameters for the cervical spine in a sample of the Brazilian population and its distribution by sex and age. Methods: This was a prospective study considering 94 asymptomatic individuals evaluated by panoramic radiograph of the spine for the analysis of the following parameters: cervical lordosis (CL), C2 sagittal vertical axis (SVA-C2), cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), and T1 Slope (TA-T1). The parameter values were compared according to sex and age of individuals. Results: The mean CL was -16.5° (SD: ± 10.8°), SVA-C2 was -3.9 mm (SD: ± 29.2 mm), cSVA was 16.9 mm (SD: ± 10.6 mm) and TA-T1 was 24.8° (SD: ± 7.0°). There was no significant difference between the radiographic parameters when considered with respect to sex and age of individuals (P>0.05). The analysis of correlation among the radiographic parameters showed that the TA-T1 presented the highest correlation with the other parameters, including CL (r= 0.367, P<0.01), SVA-C2 (r= 0.434, P<0.001) and cSVA (r= 0.441, P<0.001). There was also a correlation between SVA-C2 and cSVA (r= 0.32, P= 0.001) and inverse correlation between CL and the cSVA (r= -0.242, P= 0.019). Conclusio: We introduced normality data of the cervical spine alignment in a Brazilian population sample. There was significant correlation among the analyzed parameters, especially considering TA-T1 in relation to the other parameters.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare the measurement of the Cobb angle on printed radiographs and on scanned radiographs viewed through the software "PixViewer". Methods: Preoperative radiographs of 23 patients were evaluated on printed films and through the software "PixViewer". The same evaluator, a spine surgeon, chose the proximal and distal limiting vertebrae of the main curve on printed radiographs, without identification of patients, and measured the Cobb angle based on these parameters. The same parameters and measurements were applied to scanned radiographs. The measurements were compared, as well as the choice of limiting vertebrae. Results: The average variation of the Cobb angle between methods was 1.48 ± 1.73°. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.99, demonstrating excellent reproducibility. Conclusion: The Cobb method can be used to evaluate scoliosis through the "PixViewer" tool with the same reliability as the classic method on printed radiographs.

ABSTRACT Objective: Traditional surgical treatments, such as on-site fusion and hemiepiphysiodesis, have not addressed chest deformity in its three dimensions, and are usually insufficient and unpredictable for the management of congenital and neuromuscular scoliosis. The application of the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR) is a technique developed to treat early-onset progressive scoliosis that elongates the spine and thoracic wall, allowing adequate lung development. Methods: A case series retrospective study was conducted. We included 23 patients, including fifteen females and eight males diagnosed with congenital and neuromuscular scoliosis, who were treated with VEPTR type implants between January 2008 and May 2014. We obtained data about the implant and pre and postoperative radiographic images to assess the magnitude of the curve, and we measured the Cobb angle and length after lengthening, as well as evaluating the complications found. Results: There was an improvement in the postoperative Cobb angle. In patients with congenital scoliosis, deformity correction was 8.6% (p=0.014), and in neuromuscular scoliosis, we observed deformity correction of 19.5% (p=0.009). Likewise, we found gains in thoracic height through the device, which results in an average 10% lengthening of the spine in congenital scoliosis. In this study, we identified complications such as material migrations, rib synostosis, pressure zones, rib fracture, hemothorax, and deep wound infection. Conclusion: The natural history of progressive spinal deformity was improved in most of the minors, through the use of VEPTR. This allows us to continue managing patients in the future, in order to make a deeper assessment of its performance in treatment of early onset scoliosis. Level of Evidence III; Therapeutic studies - Investigating the results of a treatment.